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Disaster Recovery Services Help Companies Stay in Business

Most companies have a plan for addressing unexpected issues, but many lack a plan for surviving a climactic event such as an earthquake or pandemic. Although most companies never experience such an event, those that do can go out of business unless they have a business recovery plan in place-a plan that is tailored to their unique needs by a provider of disaster recovery services.

The Reality of Data Loss

Since the beginning of organized commerce, companies have used important information to help them make sales. In the past, this information was held as common knowledge or stored in physical filing systems. Today, it is stored mainly in computers-devices that simplify data storage, but can be more susceptible to destruction than physical files. For example, research shows that most disk drives malfunction when they are dropped from a height of three feet, and tape cartridges do not fair much better.

The solution, of course, is not to revert to storing data in physical filing systems, but to store it offsite on the servers of a disaster recovery service. How important is storing data offsite? Consider the following statistic: After experiencing a major data loss, seventy percent of small companies close their doors within a year. The same thing can happen to large companies when a major event destroys onsite data and a recovery plan is not in place.

Choosing a Provider

The first step in choosing a provider of disaster recovery services is to realize that a business recovery plan consists of more than offsite data storage. Many companies offer cloud-based storage, but few companies combine cloud-based storage with a full range of recovery options. With this in mind, companies should concentrate on evaluating providers that offer the following options as a part of the recovery plan:

Hardware on demand– When an event destroys a company’s hardware, having data stored offsite is just one part of the solution. The company also needs hardware on which to recover the data, and use until a permanent solution is reached.

Recovery testing– Given the serious nature of data loss, a company must test the recovery plan before it goes into effect. The test should be conducted using the hardware the company would use if the plan were carried out.

Center-based solutions– Some companies require conditioned floor space to test and/or carry out the recovery plan. The provider should accommodate this requirement.

Basic and advanced options– Because different companies have different needs, the provider should offer basic and advanced options that meet the needs of every customer.

These options provide companies with a complete recovery plan, one that is testable, supportable with hardware on demand, and anticipates the needs of the recovery environment.

Conclusion

A business recovery plan from a provider of disaster recovery services helps companies remain solvent in the wake of events such as earthquakes or pandemics. If your company is not protected against such events, identifying service providers based on the information above is a good place to start.